Car-truck construction.



J. W. BETTENDORP.

GAR TRUCK CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED JUN1I17.1911. 1,020,960, Patented Mar. 26, 1912 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

s lllllllllljlllllilllll Patented Mar.26,1912.`

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. W. BETTENDRF.

CAE TRUCK CONSTRUCTION. APPLIUATION FILED JUNE17.1911,

1,020,960. Patented Ma1.26, 1912 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

v Erg A @JM/{/@CLOWMQM UNITED sTaTEs PATENT oEEicE.

JOSEPH`W' BETTENDDRF, OF BETTENDORF, IOWA.

CAR-TRUCK CONSTRUCTION.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, JosEPH W.r BirrrEN- Donn, a citizen of the United States of America, and residentof Bettendorf, ,Scott county, Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful improvement in Car-Truck Gonstruction, of which the following is a speellication.

My invention relates to improvements in car truck construction, and more particularly to improved means for supporting the end of the bolster in the side frame.

In priorconstructions, in which the bolster was provided with a squared end which was supported Within the bolster opening in the side frame, certain objectionable features arose owing to the rigid construction of this type of truck. In such a truck, if one of the wheel encountered a slight de pression in the track, the wheel was prevented from following this depression owing to the rigid construction, and the trrck was thus very liable to become derailed. By my invention, however, I provide a very flexible construction whereby the wheels are permitted to follow the rails closely, the bolster being supported so that it is capable of having a slight rotation within the side frame.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a flexible connection in a car truck in which the parts are securely held in position Without the use of bolts or rivets, whereby the truck can be quickly assembled or disassembled.

These and other objects of my invention will be more clearly `understood. by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which- Figure 1 represents a side view of a truck embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bearing supporting the end of the bolster. Fig. 3 is a side view of one end of the bolster. Fig. llis a side View of a car truck embodying a modified form of my invention. Fig. -5 is a perspective view of a locking bearing supporting the end of the bolster .in this modified construction. Fig. 6 is a side view of one end of a bolster for use in this modi fied construction. Fig. 7 is a side view of a car truck embodying another modified form Speclcation of Letters Patent. Patented D131', 26, 1912,

Application lcd .Tune 17, 1911.

Serial No. 633,694.

of my invention. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a locking bearing supporting the end of the bolster in this modilied construction. Fig. E) is a perspective view of a modified form of bolster for use in this second modification.

l have illustrated in Fig. 1 a side frame comprising an upper arch bar 7 and a lower arch bar 8, and suitable columns 9 and l0, all of well known and usual construction. Bearings 11 and 12 are provided at opposite ends of this side frame, in a manner well understood, and the bolster opening is slightly enlarged at its lower portion, as shown at 13, for a purpose which will be hereinafter pointed out.

The locking bearing for supporting the end of the holsteishown in Fig. 2 comprises a rectangular body portion 14 and a pair of flanges 15-16 at its forward end, and a corresponding pair of tlanges 17e-18 at its rear end. A cylindrical bearing opening 19 passes longitudinally through the center of this block. In Ythe upper portion there' is an L-shaped slot having a longitudinal portion 2O and a transverse portion 21. The bolster may be of any of the well known types, and is modified simply by the fact that the ends of this bolster are reduced, as shown at 22, and this end portion is provided with a projecting lug 23, which lug is adapted to engage with the L-shaped slot in the locking casting, in a manner which "will be hereinafter more clearly pointed out.

.ln assemblinothis type of truck, the locking bearing is 'rst inserted in the enlarged portion 13 of the bolster opening and then raised so that the flanges 15 and 16 bear .against one side of the side frame While the flanges 17 and 18 bear against the oppositey i side, thus supporting this bearlng within the side frame and preventin any longitudinal or rotary movement of t e same. The bolster springs 24 and 25 are then inserted beneath this bearing in a well known manner, so as to support the same, and the end 22 of the bolster is then inserted within the locking bearing so that the end engages within the opening 19 and is supported thereby. In the insertion of the bolster within the bearing the bolster is slightly rotated, so that the lug 23.first engages,

with the longitudinal portion 20 of the Slot in the castit ,and then when the transverse portion lothis slot is reached the bolster is rotated so that this lug engages with this transverse portion. This transverse portion o the slot is preferably of sufficient length so that after the truck is assembled the bolster will. not be rotated a sutlicient distance to permit the 'tig'QS to again engage with the longitudinal slot 20. By this construe tion it will be lreadily apparent that the bolster is securely held between the casting and side frame, so that it is prevented from any longitudinal movement on account of the engagement of the lug Q3 with this transverse slot-, but the bolster is adapted for a slight rotary movement on account of the length ofthe slot 2l.

I .have shown in Figs. l, 5 and 6 av slightly modified construction in which the locking hearing lll is provided Withbut a. single pair of flanges 15 and 16%, and in which the bolster itself bears against the inside of the side frame, as at 17a and 18a, thus performing the function of the second flanges on the locking bearing. In this construew tion it is unnecessary to enlarge the bolster opening as in the prior construction, as the locking casting can be readily inserted within this opening, and is held from longitudinal movement in one direction by means ot' the lags l5a and 16, and is held from movement in the opposite direction by means ot' the anges on ,the bolster, to which/it is securely locked by means of the pin-andsl'ot connection, which flanges bear against the 'inside ot the side frame. The other features of thismoditied form are substantially the same as that described in connection with Figs. l, 2 and 3, the bolster being supported and ticked. in position in sub stantiall y the saine manner.

In Figs. 7, d and S) l have shown a still further moditication of my invention, whereby l obtain a limited rotation of the side frame with respect to the bolster without the use of the pin-andslot connection.

in this modification l employ a locking bearing' 25 provided with a pair ot' flanges 26 and 2T, similar to the flanges 15 and 1t",a Shown in the prior n'iodification. The central portion oi this locking bearing is hollowed ont so as to provide a U-shaped opening within which the reduced end 2S of the bolster is adapted to rest. This end portion of the holster is partially rounded, but is preferably flattened at its upper surface. so that it is practicallivv of a horse-shoe shape in cross-section. lt is likewisey provided with a slightly enlarged end portion 2) which bears against the front surface ot the lockingr bearing as clear);7 shown in Figs.

l and 8. It will be noted that the end portion 2S is rounded so as to bear against the lower portion of the lil-shaped opening in the locking bearing, but the uppercurved inatteso portion 'ot' 'this reduced end curves 'av/ay from the sides of this opening, so that a partial rotation ot' this bearing with respect to the bolster is permitted ing is mounted within the opening in thev bolster within. the side frame, and have pro- .1.

vided means, in a truck in which the parts are all held togetheixwithout bolts or rivets, whereby a very flexible construction vis olo- 'tained and in which the bolster has a limited rotative connection with the side frame.

lalhile I have shown certain specific ernbodiments of my' invention, it is understood that l do not, wish to he limited to such eX- act construction.

What I claim as my invention is;

1. ln a ear truck, a side frame having. a holster opening therein, a bearing movaloly This locking bearsupported within said opening, and a bolster having a limited rotative connection with said hearing.

2. in a car truck, side frames, a movable hearing, a bolster held in said -frames vby said bearing, and means for permitting rotation of said bolster relative to said side frames. v

3. ln a car truck, a bolster, side frames, bearings held therein, bolster springs sup porting .said hearings, and means for supporting said bolster Within said hearings, so that said bolster is capable of rotation with respect to said side frames.

l. ln a car truck, side frames, movable bearings held within said side frames, a bolster, and means for supporting said bolster within said bearings, so that said bolster is capable of rotation but is held against any longitudinal movement with respect to said Side frames.

In a car truck, a bolster, side frames having bolster openings therein, movable bearings provided with flanges bearing against the sides of said openings, and means for permitting rotation of said bolster relative to said side frames. Y

(l. ln a car truck, side frames having bolster openings therein, hearings having,r angu-- lar slots, supported within said openings, a holster provided with lugs adapted to engage with said slots, whereby said bolster is permitted to rotate but is held againstlonfgitudinal movement with respect to said bearings.

7. ln a car truck, side frames having' holt ster openings therein, bearings having angular slots supported within said openings,

nnges on Suid bearings beni-ing against 1 Signed by me at Bettendorf, Iowa, this the sides of said openings, wherebyy it is 1 12H1 day of June 1911..

held within said openings, und a bolster provided with a lug adapted to engage with J OSE PH W. BETTENDORF.

said slot, vhereby said bolster is permitted u. limitati rotation but is held aguns'longi- Witnesncs: tudlna] movement. with respect t0 said beux- HENRY BELLINGHAUSEN, mg. F. M. (onlmnn. 

